While it was certainly a step above camping (sleeping on pillows made from comics in a plastic bag is not recommended, they don’t plump) it lacked certain luxuries.

The toilet occupied a space no bigger than a broom closet (seriously, if you leaned forward your forehead would touch the wall opposite) while the shower was in a block at the bottom of the hill. You had to take turns with the rest of the site and could generally count on sharing a cubicle with a spider or three.

I reflected on that while sitting back in a hot tub sipping Champagne in the darkness of Sherwood Forest at about 10.30pm, a cunning arrangement of parasols keeping off the light drizzle we barely noticed was falling.

What we were doing wasn’t caravanning so much as it was cabining, but the fact it was in a field with livestock as occasional neighbours brought those memories back.

Apart from the hot tub on the terrace (where there was also space for a barbecue and eating area), this cabin was as luxuriously appointed as a four-star hotel.

There were fluffy towels and bathrobes in the bedrooms, Egyptian cotton sheets, iPod docks and mini Molton Brown toiletries in the en suite of the master bedroom.

A state of the art oven with extractor fan had replaced Baby Bellings and cracking open a window.

Huge kitchen/dining room tables big enough to seat six/eight were a luxurious change from a narrow table and bench seats that doubled as a bed at night.

And a flat screen TV gave a much better picture than an old portable with an aerial from Poundland plugged in the back.

The cabins were heated but there was also the more romantic option of a wood burning stove. Fortunately, a bucket of pre-chopped wood could be purchased from the on-site office, so we didn’t have to risk our own fingers wielding an axe.

There was also ‘contemporary’ which has a loft style living vibe, and ‘rustic’, which seems to feature lots of exposed wood and furry bedspreads.

As tempting as it was to spend as much time as possible in the hot tub, there were other kinds of relaxation just a short drive or a brisk walk away at Thoresby Hall.

The Sherwood Hideaway Lodges where we were staying were discretely tucked away on the 100 acre Thoresby Estate in Nottinghamshire.

Thoresby was originally owned by Earl Manvers, a descendant of Robert de Pierrepont who accompanied William I during the conquest of 1066.

Around four different mansions have occupied the site since the 1600s, the current Grade I listed building dates from the mid to late 19th century. The gardens were designed by Sir Humphrey Repton and the parklands by Capability Brown.

Home to the Manvers family until the death of the 8th Earl in 1955, it now operates as a Warner Leisure Hotel with a spa, including pool, that can be used by lodge guests at a discounted rate.

As we were in Sherwood Forest, we decided to keep our activities outdoors (in spite of the inclement weather). We headed for Go Ape at nearby Sherwood Pines.

As the name suggests, it encourages all kinds of monkeying around in the tree tops, completing a course that involves climbing up trees (ladders provided) edging across rope bridges and wobbling wooden boards or even crawling through barrels before attaching yourself to a zip wire and hurtling towards the ground.

We were clipped on for safety and landed in huge piles of leaves to avoid injury and the whole experience was surprisingly exhilarating.

In fact, it was so popular that it could get quite crowded on the platforms as other parties queued up waiting for their turn. Sensible clothing is encouraged but one group had elected to go round dressed as superheroes, complete with tights and capes.

We reluctantly left our stylish new home the next morning and headed up to Thoresby Hall in search of brunch. The Courtyard in the grounds is full of charming little shops, cafes, galleries, a glass blower’s and even The Queen’s Royal Lancers and Nottinghamshire Yeomanry Museum.

Shopping and eating done, we finally headed back to the West Midlands wishing we had a hot tub time machine (it’s a film, honestly) to go all the way back to the start of the weekend.

Getting There

The Sherwood Hideaway offers a choice of Rustic, Contemporary or Traditional-styled lodges. Long weekend breaks start from £300 per two-bed lodge (sleeps four) and from £380 per three-bed lodge (sleeps six).

A week-long stay costs from £485 (two-bed) or £595 (three-bed). Hot tubs are available on the decks of selected lodges. For further information and to book visit www.sherwoodhideaway.com or call 01623 824 594.

There are 28 Go Ape Adventures across the UK. It costs £30 for gorillas (adults) £20 for baboons (10-17 year olds) for two to three hours. For details look up www.goape.co.uk or call 0845 6439215